Page 10-Thursday, March 18, 1982-The Michigan Daily
Foussianes leaps at Tiger chance
By PAUL HELGREN
The great thing about ex-Michigan
baseball star George Foussianes is that
nothing seems to really bother him.
Circumstances that mightbdiscourage
others are no big deal to the one-time
Wolverine captain.
For instance, he was drafted in the
36th (last) round of the 1980 major
league baseball draft. The Detroit
Tigers drafted him afterhhis senior
year, a year in which he hit .364 and set
whether he would ever totally recover.
But the Tigers took a chance and played
him at first base on their Macon team.
Foussianes came through with a .291
batting average, and seven HR's, in
what amounted to half a season. The
former Academic All-American
praised the Tiger's decision.
"My arm feels great. It's coming
along real good," said Foussianes.
"But I never could have played
anywhere but first base at Macon. It
really helped. I can't say enough about
the Tiger organization. They've been
super with me."
A DIFFERENT turn of bad luck
stopped Foussianes from turning pro a
year early. After his junior season, a
year that saw Foussianes lead the Big
Ten in hitting with,a .452 average (Big
Ten games only) and hit a team leading
.363 overall, he was drafted by the Mon-
treal Expos. "I was close to signing
with Montreal," explained the one time
Michigan MVP. "But then I hurt my
knee. It worked (out) okay, though. I
got to play with the Tigers."
Like a lot of players, Foussianes ad-
mits he always had a preference to play
for the local team. Foussianes has
"always been a Tiger fan," so being in
the Detroit organization is just fine with
him.
Foussianes earned his shot at the
pros with an excellent collegiate career
here. While earning four varsity letters
he made All-Big Ten in 1979 as a shor-
tstop and 1980 as a designated hitter.
After leading the Wolverines in hitting
as a junior, his .364 average in his
senior year fell short of Jim Paciorek's
team-leading .367 mark. The career
records Foussianes holds are home
runs with 19 (recently tied- by
Paciorek), RBI's (98), and total bases
(221).
prospects are working out in Lakeland
in hopes of making the big leagues.
These prospects work out separately
from the roster players, but in the same
stadium complex. The players work out
from 10:00-3:00 and live in a place
Foussianes says "is a lot like a college
dorm. You have curfew and
everything."
THE 6-1 TIGER hopeful talks freely
about his lifetime goals. "Of course
"My arm feels great. It's coming along real good. But I
never could have played anywhere but first base at Macon.
It really helped. I can't say enough about the Tiger
organization. They've been super with me."
-Former Michigan baseball star, George Foussianes
thr e career Michigan baseball recor-
ds. Was Foussianes discouraged by the
fact that most clubs didn't consider him
a legitimate prospect?
"NOT AT ALL," said the Bir-
mingham, Mich. native. "I was just
happy to be drafted. Really, I mean
that."
An arm injury earlier that year for-
ced coach Bud Middaugh to switch
Foussianes from shortstop to
designated hitter. Many clubs doubted
DESPITE THESE impressive recor-
ds, Foussianes named a team
achievement as his most memorable.
"Going to the College World Series two
out of my four years (sophomore and
senior) was really a thrill. I mean,
that's the best in the country.''
Michigan placed fifth both years.
After signing with the Tigers and
spending his first year with Macon,
Foussianes was promoted to Lakeland,
the team's class 'A' team. Although he
hit only .245, he continued to show good
power, belting 11 homers with 55 RBI.
Right now Foussianes and 149 other
you've got to get there (major leagues)
eventually. Some guys say they'll only
play so many years, (in the minors) but
for me, I'll just play and wait and see."
He doesn't like to set statistical goals
either, adding, "I don't like to put
pressure on myself like that. I don't
have any (statistical goals)."
If baseball doesn't work out for
Foussianes as a career, however, don't
be looking for him to be selling
baseballs. Foussianes graduated from
business school with a 3.64 grade point
average. He is currently working on
hiss. MBA at Michigan during the off-
season.
Sports Information Photo
FORMER 'M' STAR George Foussianes, seen here during his collegiate
playing days, rifles a throw to first base. Now trying to find a spot on the
Detroit Tigers'Lakeland farm team,Foussianes hopes to someday make the
major leagues.
It
featuring
Food for
Thought
When dining in Ann Arbor, the one
restaurant not to be missed is
Weber's Inn. Adjacent to the lovely
Weber's Motor Inn, the Webers claim
that it's a restaurant first, and a hotel
second. This certainly seems to be
abided by, as Weber's is a one-of-a-
kind restaurant, plus a little bit more!
For dinner, Weber's makes dining a
pleasure in its newly remodeled
atrium-styled dining room. The plants
and openness give the room a warm,
friendly feeling, that can only be
classified as "casual formal;" the per-
fect dining atmosphere. Dinner is
served from 4-10 pm and features
Prime Rib, regular cut $11.25 and
reserved cut $8.95, Roast Long Island
Duckling $8.50, and their famous
Boston Schrod, flown in daily, for
$7.95. All dinners are served with a
choice of the chef's daily made soup
or tossed salad greens topped with
homemade dressings. Also accom-
panying meals are freshly' baked
bread and a visit to a well-stocked
relish table. Desserts can be selected
from a mouth-watering pastry cart,
over-flowing with scrumptious tarts,
cakes, and pastries, baked daily by
Weber's own French pastry chef. You
won't be able to pass it up!
Lunch is also a treat at Weber's
from 11 am-4 pm. The beautiful sunlit
atrium is like nothing else to be found
in Ann Arbor. Favorites include
reasonably priced scallops $4.95,
broiled Teriyaki steak $4.75, and
several lower-priced hamburgers and
sandwiches. The adjoining pub-
Habitat Lounge offers a quick lunch
for businessmen and students on
lunch break.
For a change of pace, be sure to
make plans for Happy Hour Monday
through Friday 4-6 pm, featuring
doubles on all house brands, plus
delicious hot hors d'oeurves. After-
wards, a soft contemporary band
plays from 9-1 am Tuesday-Saturday
in the Habitat Lounge. While dinner is
served, you can enjoy the warm at-
mosphere and take in a few dances,
while seated in either the Habitat
Lounge or the newly designed Ven-
tura Lounge. Just beyond the Habitat
Lounge is the elegant La Bistro alcove
where romantic candlelit dinners are
served. It's just the place for a cozy
dinner and dancing. The Habitat
Lounge has its own special kitchen
and continues serving hamburgers
and deli sandwiches in a comfortable
pub-like atmosphere until midnight.
Everything from Eggs Benedict to
Lox & Bagels to Blueberry Pancakes
are offered from 7-11 am on the ex-
tensive breakfast menu. Sunday
breakfast is served until 12:30 in the
afternoon and features a special
Champagne Breakfast.
Weber's Inn was remodeled a year
ago adding a spacious, yet warm and
cozy atmosphere. It truly offers.
something for everyone-even a kid-
die menu! Weber's Inn has become a
graduation tradition in Ann Arbor,
but don't wait unfil graduation to en-
joy it! Call 665-3636 for dinner reser-
vations.
11
Daily Photo by MIKE LUCAS
Doily rnoto by MIKE LUCAS
W.Huron T'-_ J 995-0505
PASTA SPECIALS-Two kinds daily
All You Can Eat!
With tossed salad, bread & butter
$5.50 (March 15-28)
For a Course in Fine Dining
Read the Restaurant Page
Each Thursday
INTRODUCING
HAPPY HOUR
Featuring the piano stylings of
STEWART CUNNINGHAM
Mon-Fri 4:30-6:00
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QR'1b Bfermian
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Open
am-8:30 pm Mon-Wed,
Sun 11-8
Fri & Sat til 9:00 pm
1
Do
20 W. Washington
owntown Ann Arbor
Phone: 662-0737
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AT ITS BEST
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